Calque for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: kælkWhat does Calque really mean?
Hey there! So, the word "calque" is kind of like when you take a word or phrase from one language and translate it literally into another language. It's like when you use a word-for-word translation, instead of figuring out the best way to say it in the new language.
Let me give you an example to make it a bit clearer. Imagine you have a phrase in French that means "it's raining cats and dogs" and you decide to translate it word for word into English. So instead of saying "it's raining cats and dogs," you say "it's raining chats and chiens." That's a calque!
It's important to understand that calques can sometimes sound a bit funny or awkward in the new language because not all phrases translate perfectly. They can also cause confusion if the new language doesn't use the same words in the same way.
So, yeah, a calque is basically a literal translation of a word or phrase from one language to another. It's like trying to fit a circle into a square peg - it just doesn't always work! But it's definitely something interesting to know about when learning about languages. Cool, right?
Let me give you an example to make it a bit clearer. Imagine you have a phrase in French that means "it's raining cats and dogs" and you decide to translate it word for word into English. So instead of saying "it's raining cats and dogs," you say "it's raining chats and chiens." That's a calque!
It's important to understand that calques can sometimes sound a bit funny or awkward in the new language because not all phrases translate perfectly. They can also cause confusion if the new language doesn't use the same words in the same way.
So, yeah, a calque is basically a literal translation of a word or phrase from one language to another. It's like trying to fit a circle into a square peg - it just doesn't always work! But it's definitely something interesting to know about when learning about languages. Cool, right?
Revised and Fact checked by Olivia White on 2023-11-13 19:53:16
Calque In a sentece
Learn how to use Calque inside a sentece
- The word 'skyscraper' is a calque from the French term 'gratte-ciel', which literally means 'scrape-sky'.
- The phrase 'cul-de-sac' is a calque from French, meaning 'bottom of the bag', which translates to 'dead end' in English.
- The English phrase 'flea market' is a calque from the French 'marché aux puces', which literally translates to 'market of fleas'.
- The term 'brainwash' is a calque from the Chinese phrase 'xǐ nǎo', which means 'wash brain'.
- The word 'folklore' is a calque from the German word 'volksüberlieferung', which means 'people's tradition'.
Calque Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Calque Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.